Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-27
DAILY HERALD.
ELAM'S FOOTPRINTS.
Around the Cistern of the
BOdkin House.
THE DECEASED'S ACTIONS,
Mrs. BOdkin's Statement of the
Killing of the Foe of the
Family.

The Bodkin trial was resumed yes
terday morning before Judge Cheney
and a jury. Mrs. Bodkin, wife Of the
prisoner, was again called to the wit
ness stand and resumed her testimony
as follows: My husband went away
about the LIST OF September and was
gone about four weeks. l did not see
Elam on the night my husband re-
turned, October 30th. My husband
was home on the night of the 31st; /;
we went to Anaheim to attend church
ON that day. Mrs. Cordell was stay
ing at our house ON that day; We were
about to rent our place to the Cor
dells at that time. On the morning
of the LIST my boy went out to stake
the COW, but soon returned
and said that Elam was
after him. My husband went out; l
heard my husband called vile name
by Elan. Elan said that he would
not only thrash our boy, but my hus-
band, too. l heard him say: II have
been waiting for this chance" then
heard my husband step on board in
the shed. Soon after | heard shot,
and on looking out saw Elan stagger
and sit down by the ditch. l sent my
little girl after Mrs. Kent. l never
said that Elam got what he deserved.
My husband came over towards the
house and handed me the pistol. l
started towards the house and my
husband then left for Santa Ana to
give himself up. My little boy went
with him and brought back the wag-
on.
The witness was cross-examined by
the prosecution, but her testimony
was not impeached.
Miss Ida Parker next testified as fol-
lows 81 reside in Orange. Know
the Bodkins. Fixed up the fence for
them when someone broke it down.
When put down the posts Iput them
in firmly. am pretty strong. | put
in twenty-one posts. Johnny Bodkin
helped me. l offered to fix the fence
because Mrs. Bodk;n said she could
not get anyone to do it."
Court took recess until after noon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Court recOnvened at O'Clock,
and Miss Ida Parker was recalled for
cross examination. She testified as
follows: The fence l put up was be-
tween my fathers land and Mr.. Bod
kin's. 1t took me about half day.
There were about twenty-one posts.
Johnny Bodkin, 10-year-old boy,
helped me to put it up. | used a
shovel. The posts were all there be-
fore | commenced. In the night the
dog barked, and | went to the window,
and could see nothing. Somebody was
in the ward. Whatever it was fell
over bucket in the yard. The next
morning | saw man standing at the
bridge. He was throwing clods at the
dog. The man was on the bridge
and the dog was on the bank. 1t was
dark, and | could not distinguish
clearly. The night before We, that is,
Mrs. Bodkin and myself, were at the
window when the rocks were thrown.
Miss Kate Parker, sister of the
previous witness, aged Is years, was
next called. l have lived at Orange
for fourteen years. Have been ac-
quainted with Mr.. and Mrs. Bodkin
for some time. About month before
Elan was killed l stayed all night at
Mr.. Bodkin's house. l went home
from school with Lilly Bodkin. Dur
ing the night We heard somebody
walking around the house. In the
morning the leather across the door
had been cut. The water which was
in pail looked as though grease or
something else had been put in it. 1t
wasn't that way before we went to
bed, because Lilly and l brought it
from the ditch.
w. H. Freer was next called and
testified as follows: Am farmer and
lived near Orange for thirteen years.
Know Bodkin. He used to be a
school teacher. His reputation was
known as a peaceable, good, straight
forward neighbor.
William f. Quinn also has known
Bodkin for a number of years and
always regarded him as good and
peaceful citizen.
j. w. Hinton, ex-School Superin-
tendent, was sworn. In July, 1886,
Bodkin asked me to give him a school
some place away from Orange. He
came into my office. | asked him if
he could not get school in his vicin-
ty. He replied that he wanted to get
away because he was having great
deal of trouble with a neighbor.
Bodkin was very much excited, and |
advised him to consult his intimate
friends and let them tell him the best
course to pursue. He was very much
frightened. Don't know that Bodkin
could not get school around Orange
because he was Objectionable as a
teacher. / knew that some found
fault with him.
VIC. Martin was next called. Reside
in Pomona. Know Mr.. Bodkin. Have
known him for twelve years. He has
ived near me when he was a school
teacher. His general reputation was
that of man of peaceable and quiet
habits.
James F. Smith, of Orange, was
next called. Know Mr.. and Mrs.
Bodkin. Have worked for them
petting up fence. 1t was between
Matthews and Bodkin's land. A
couple of tramps helped me to put it
up. The fence was on two sides Of a
twenty acre lot. The posts were
placed five inches in the ground, and
had two wires. / afterwards found
the fence down and put it up alone.
The fence looked as though some one
had pulled up the posts. Knew Elan,
and have seen him frequently. Saw
some foot prints leading to the cistern.
They we're imam tracks" They led
to the road, and toward Elam's house.
i saw Elam three or four days after
wards, and his shoes corresponded
with the foot prints. attracted Mr..
Cordell's attention to the fact. The
heels OF the shoes making the tracks
were "run down." or the heels were
worn on the outside. l noticed that
Elam's boots has this peculiarity.
During his cross examination Mr..
Dupuy endeavored to follow the
s'trackso all around Orange, but the